Electro-optical system



Dec. 15, 1936.

F. GRAY ELECTROOPTICAL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13 1930 /N 1 5N TOR ,9? GRA v 147' TORNE Y Q 2&63398 Dec. 35, 1936. F GRAYELECTROOPTICAL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Wk m m W QR11v VENTOR (ZR/1V ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15 1 936 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIC Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1930,Serial No. 502,087

44 Claims.

This invention relates to electro-optical systems and more particularlyto a method of and means for producing an image.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide television receiversincluding separate light sources, adapted to provide illuminatedsurfaces corresponding in area to different sections of the image fieldand to supply the respective light sources with image currentstransmitted over different communicating channels, in combination withone or more movable scanning discs operating synchronously with similarscanning discs at a transmittinglstation and having a plurality ofspirals of apertures individual to the different sections of theimagefield, whereby elemental areas of the respective sections may besimultaneously viewed or light therefrom may be projected upon a screento produce an image of the subject or field scanned at the transmitter.

Another system, similar to that described above, embodies a scanningmechanism comprising two movable members provided with slots lying indifferent planeswhich cooperate to produce a plurality of cross-slots,each individual to an extended illuminated sectional portion of theimage field, whereby. these portions are simultaneously but separatelyreproduced.

In suchsystems the image currentstransmitted over the respectivechannels energize a light source corresponding in area to a completesection of the image field and require scanning members operating athigh speed.

The present invention relates to a system including movable strip lightsources, each corresponding in area to a unit line of the image, whichare used to effect the reproduction of an image.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, image currents, varyingas the tone values of successive elemental areas of different sectionsof the field of view or subject, are transmitted over separate channelssimultaneously and are distributed to spaced apart movable strip lightsources, the varying currents corresponding to the different sectionsbeing transmitted over each channel in succession, or repeatedly overone channel, to control the production of an image in a period of timeequal to the time required to scan the complete image within the periodof persistence of vision multiplied by the number of channels employed,If two channels are'used to produce twenty images per second, each imagesection will be scanned and reproduced in a tenth of a second.

According to another aspect of the invention, a plurality of spacedapart movable strip 7 light sources may be simultaneously energized byimage currents, corresponding to alternate lines of the field of view,respectively transmitted over a plurality of channels, or the sourcesmay be energized in succession by image currents transmitted over asingle channel to control the production of an image ata ratewithin theperiod of persistence of vision.

One object of the invention is to produce-a brightly illuminated image.

Another object iseto utilize the image currentstransmitted to controlthe illumination of a single line of the image field.

A further object is to distribute the image currents, transmitted overdifferent channels of a 15 plural channel system, to simultaneouslyenergize a plurality of movable strip light sources.

A still further object is to scan successive'elemental areas of thesimultaneously energized light sources. 04

A feature of the invention relates to a scanning 2 mechanism includingcooperating members one of which moves atlow rate of speedcompared withthat of the other. I

Oneembodiment of the invention comprises' a transmitter including arotary scanning disc providedwith lenses arranged in a spiral line formoving an imageof theobject or fieldof view across a plurality of lightsensitive devices, two of which are connected in parallel to onecommunicating channel and are activated successively by light fromdifferent sections of the field scanned, while the other is connected toa sepa rate channel and is activated by light from all sections of thefield in succession, the image traversing the light sensitive devices sothat one or the other device in the first channel and that in the otherchannel are simultaneously activated by light from the respectivesections of the field of view, and a receiver including a revo1ving=cylinder provided with slots behind each of which is a source of lighthaving a length equal to the width of the cylinder and a commutatorthrough which the, image currents, transmittedover the respectivecommunicating channels, are simultaneously supplied to a like number oflight sources, and a disc having slots long enough to extend across theslots of the cylinder which are 'associated with the energized sources;whereby a like number of elemental areas, having tone valuescorresponding to elemental areas similarly positioned in the respectivesections of the field, or' subject, are simultaneouslyviewed or lighttherefrom is projected upon ascreeni In another embodiment thetransmitter is 2 provided with scanning means adapted to supply lightfrom the successive elemental areas of different sections of the fieldto light sensitive devices respectively included in separatecommunicating channels.

In either case, the cylinder of the receiver is rotated at a ratedetermined by the number of lines into which the field of view is to beresolved and the number of illuminated lines or light sources beingsimultaneously scanned. The cooperating slotted disc is mounted upon anaXis at right angles to that of the cylinder, is substantiallytangential thereto, and is driven at a rate determined by that of thecylinder, the number of slots in the disc and the number of elementalareas constituting a line.

In alternative embodiments the light sources may be mounted externallyof the cylinder, or may be carried by a member moved back and forthacross the field by a cam arrangement and adapted to cooperate with adisc having a number of spirals of apertures corresponding to the numberof lines being simultaneously scanned.

A detailed description of the invention follows and is illustrated inthe attached drawings.

'Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a television system including theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the transmitter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the receiver of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly different arrangement which may be used inplace of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows another arrangement which may be substituted for thatillustrated at the left of section line aa in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the apparatus of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 shows an arrangement similar to that of Fig. 5 for transmittinga motion picture film;

Fig. 8 illustrates a different type of receiving apparatus;

Fig. 9 shows a receiver for use with the transmitter of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a face view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.

By way of example there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a two-channeltelevision system, which comprises a transmitting terminal apparatus Tand a cooperating receiving apparatus R.

Apparatus T constitutes one form of transmitter which may be used toscan a field of view or subject I illuminated by a constant source oflight 2, herein shown as an arc lamp. However, the subject may beilluminated by daylight or any suitable artificial light source.

Disc 3 is provided with lenses 4 arranged in a spiral line and is drivenby a motor 5 to project moving images of the subject upon a screen ormask 9 having three small apertures 6, I, and 8, respectively associatedwith light sensitive devices H], II, and I2 herein shown asphotoelectric cells. Cells in and [2 are connected together and to theamplifier [3 included in channel I4, and cell I! is connected to theamplifier l5 included in channel l6. Cells I0 and [2 are opposite thecenters of the positions occupied by the first and last lenses as thedisc 3 rotates through one complete cycle, and cell H is midway betweencells l9 and 12. During one half revolution of disc 3 light fromsuccessive elemental areas of successive lines of one section of thesubject will pass through the aperture 6 and, simultaneously therewith,light from successive elemental areas of successive lines of the othersection of the subject will pass through the aperture 1. During theother half revolution, light from the successive elemental areas ofsuccessive lines of the first section will pass through the aperture 1,while, simultaneously therewith, light from the successive elementalareas of the successive lines of the other section will pass through theaperture 8. In this manner light from the successive elemental areas ofthe complete image will pass through the apertures 6 and 8 and alsothrough the aperture 1.

An apertured screen may be placed in front of the lens disc, or scanningelements may be attached to the back of the disc, to define the edge ofthe image and thereby prevent simultaneous illumination of cells l0 andI2 by light from the subject.

Light from the successive elemental areas of the complete image will beapplied to the light sensitive cells l0 and 12, which are therebyactivated to cause the production of image currents corresponding to thetone values of all elemental areas of the subject and supply them to theamplifier l3 for transmission over channel I4. In like manner, the cellII is activated to cause the production of image currents correspondingto the tone values of all elemental areas of the image, which areamplified by the device and transmitted over the channel l6.

By rotating the disc 3 at approximately ten revolutions per second,current corresponding to the successive elemental areas of a completeimage will be transmitted over each channel in one-tenth of a second,but over the two channels in one-twentieth of a second.

Image currents transmitted over channels 14 and I6 respectively areamplified by the terminal amplifiers l1 and I8. Amplified image currentssupplied by the amplifier H, are transmitted via the brush l9 andcommutator in succession to one terminal of a series of light sources 2|secured to the inner periphery of the cylinder 22.

In a similar manner, amplified image currents produced by the device [8are supplied through a brush 23 and commutator 24 in succession to oneterminal of a second series of light sources 25, also secured to theinner surface of the drum 22. The opposite terminals of the two seriesof light sources 2i and 25 are connected to a slip ring 25 and through abrush 21 to the amplifiers l1 and I8.

Fig. 2 illustrates the disc 3 provided with the spiral of lenses 4.

As shown in Fig. 3 the cylinder 22 is provided with a number of parallelslots 28, which are spaced equal angular distances apart and extendsubstantially across the cylindrical surface. Behind each slot 28 is alight source 2| or 25. These sources alternate with each other and areof the same length as the slots 28, thereby constituting strip lightsources.

Sources 2| and 25 are herein shown, see Fig. 4, as glow lamps of thetype disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,865,516 of F. Gray, issued July 5,1932. However, any other. sources may be used, which will supply lightvarying with the changing amplitudes of the image currents.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, commutators 20 and 24 and slip ring 21 aremounted on the cylinder 22 for rotation therewith.

Adjacent the cylinder 22 and in a plane substantially tangentialthereto, is a disc 29 provided adjacent its periphery with radial slots30 of such length that they extend across two adjacent slots in thecylinder 22.

A motor 3! drives the cylinder 22 in synchronism with the lensed disc 3at the trans- I Stoller, issued April 30, 1935.

An optical system, herein represented by a lens- 32', may be used tomagnify the reproduced image as viewed by an observer 0 or asuitableoptical system maybe used to project it on a screen.

The separate image currents simultaneously received over the channels II and I6 are respectively supplied through the commutators 20 and 24 toadjacent light sources 2| and 25, which correspond to similarlypositioned unit lines of the respective sections scanned at thetransmitter. The lightsupplied. by the sources varies from instanttoinstant with the tone values of elemental areas of the correspondinglines scanned at the transmitter.

Disc 29 rotates at a rate proportional to that of the cylinder 22, whichis determined by the degree of definition employed and such that theunit lines of the complete image are produced in pairs and the elementalareas of the pairs of lines are simultaneously scanned in succession,whereby a complete image of the subject is produced within the period ofpersistence of vision. Asstated above, if twenty images per second areto be reproduced, the cylinder 22 is rotated at a speed such that a lamppasses across one section of the field of view in one-tenth of a second.

Transmission may be effected over a greater number of channels byproviding each additional channel with a light sensitive device to beactivated as is cell II, by light from the successive elemental areas ofthe complete field and utilizing additional commutators, brushestherefor and a light source for each channel at the receiver. Anydesiredrate of transmission may be used, within practical limits, which willpermit a complete image to be produced within the period of persistenceof vision.

The receiver-scanning apparatus, illustrated in Fig. 4 differs from thatof Fig. 3 solely in that the strip light sources 2I and 25 are mountedon the 1 external surface of a cylinder22 and the disc 29 is providedwith two rows of apertures 33 and .34, each row being arranged inadifierent spiral line to scan the simultaneously energized sources 2|and 25.

The apparatus of Fig. 5, comprises a rotating disc 35 having lensesarranged in a circle to sweep images of the subject I across a disc 36provided with two rows of apertures 31 and 38, each arranged in acircle. Disc 35 is driven by a motor 95 at a rate such that a lenstraverses the field of view in an interval equal to twice the period ofthe persistence of vision. During each rotation of disc 36, the rows ofapertures 31 and 38 scan successive elemental areas of the image andhence disc 36 should operate at a definite speed relative to that ofdisc 35. This may be secured by connecting disc 36 to the motor 95 bygearing 96.

A screen 39 limits the field of view so that the edges of the images,produced by two successive lenses, are in contact, but do not overlap.

Associated with the respective rows of apertures Hand 38 in disc 36 arelight sensitive devices 49 and M corresponding in length to a unit lineofthe image projected on the disc 36.- These devices aresimultaneouslyactivated by light from successive elemental areas-correspondingly.positionedin different sections of the subject.

Thev image currents produced by light sensi--;- tive. device; 40:are-supplied to the amplifier, I32 and transmitted over. Channels I4,and thoseresulting from the activation of 'cell 4| are amplie fied bydevice I5 and transmitted over channel I6. These image currents aresupplied to the receiver shown in Fig. 1.

Fig; 6, illustrates the relative. positions ofthe discs 35: and 36 andthe cells 40 and M.

In a similar mannerimages of a-cmotion-picture filmcmay be transmittedover a multi-channel system, as shown in Fig. 7. Light supplied by.a.source 46 of constant intensity is gathered by alens 41 andpassesthrough a film 48, moved-L continuously in the. direction of thearrow by. suitable driving means 50. A lens. 5I' projects. an image of.-the view or scene upon the-portion of arotating diSCJ52 provided withtwo rows of apertures 53: and 54: each row being arranged in a circle.The film driving means is connected by. a gearing 9.6 to' the motor 95which actuates the disc 52, whereby. the film and disc are operated incorrect time relation.

Associated with each row of apertures: 53 and 54 is axlight sensitivedevice 55 and 55 correspondingin length to each unit line of the image.These devices are respectively activated to'pro.-- duce image currentswhich are transmitted over channels I4 and I6 to the receiver shownin,Fig. 1.

Instead of using a lamp individual to each-slot or unit line at thereceiver a single lamp bent to provide a series of straight portionscorrespond-e ing'to the single lamps shown in Figs. 1, 3', and 4-. maybeused, in combination with a commutator for simultaneouslysupplying imagecurrents to. electrodes for two of: the straight portions. at any giveninstant: and to the electrodes of' the different straight portions insuccession.

The systems described above may be used to transmit alternate lines ofan image over differ,- ent channels by displacing the apertures .1 and:associated-cells II from the position midway be tween cells Iflr-and I2,or the apertures 6'and.8= and their associated cells I0v and I2 of. Fig.1, or one row of apertures in disc 36 and its associated cell..40 or-4Iof Fig. 5, adistance equal to-the: width of one unit line of .the image;similarly displacing by the same amount one series of lamps'2I or25relatively to the other and rotating the disc 3 or disc 35 andcylinder 22 at twice the speed hereinbefore specified. Thus, if twentyimages per second are to be reproduced, the disc 3. or 35 and cylinder22 should times persecond.

Forsingle-channel operation the'disc 3 and cylinder 22 should be driventwenty revolutions per second and the switches I65 and I06 in eitherchannel of the transmitter and receiver, respec-.- tively, would beopened. By opening switch I05 as herein shown, thecells I0 and I2 arerendered inoperative, while opening switch I 06 serves .to. disconnectchannel I4 from the brush I9 and group of lamps 2I. In this case, imagecurrents. corresponding to successive elemental areas of the field ofview are transmitted over the channel I6 to energize the group of. lightsources 25, which cooperate with the scanning mechanism, consisting ofthe cylinder 22 and disc 29, to produce an image. 7

Figs. 8-and 9 illustrate apparatus which may be substituted for thatshown-to the left'ofsec' tion line w-a and tothe right of section linebe rotated twenty 4' b-b, respectively, in Fig. l, to provide a systemin which image currents corresponding to elemental areas of differentsections of a field of view are repeatedly transmitted over separatechannels to respectively energize movable strip light sources which aresimultaneously scanned to produce an image of the field of view.

Referring to Fig. 8 there is shown a field of view 56, consisting of.two sections e and f, a lens 51 adapted to produce an image of the fieldof view in the plane of disc 58 mounted on a shaft I00 adapted to bedriven by a motor (not shown).

Associated with the disc 58 is a panel 59 mounted in-guideways on asupport 60 and adapted to be reciprocated by a cam 6| carried by theshaft I00. Panel 59 is provided with slots 62 and B3 and prisms 64 and65, respectively associated with the slots.

As shown in Fig. 10, disc 58 has four rows of apertures 66, 61, 68, and69 which extend through an angle of slightly less than 180 and cooperatein pairs, i. e., 66S8 and 6l69, to constitute reverse spirals. Panel 59is provided with a bracket 10, carrying a roller H which engages theface of the cam, and it is held in engagement therewith by a spring 12.The cam may comprise a rotating element provided with a slot engaged bythe roller H. Rotation of the shaft I00 causes the panel 59 toreciprocate and the disc 58 to rotate, so that as the panel moves down,light from successive elemental areas of successive unit lines ofsection e, from its outer margin to its inner border, passes through therow of apertures 66, slot 62, and prism 64. This prism causes the lightpassing through slot 62 to be directed to the light sensitive device 13,which is thereby activated to produce a varying current corresponding tothe tone values of successive elemental areas of section e.

Simultaneously therewith, light from successive elemental areas ofsection j, from its inner border to its outer margin, passes through theapertures 61 and slot 63 and is directed by the prism to the lightsensitive device 14, which is thereby activated to produce a currentvarying in accordance with the tone values of successive elemental areasof section 1.

When the panel moves upwardly, light from successive elemental areas ofthe respective sections, from the inner border to the outer margin ofsection 2 and from the outer margin to the inner border of section 1,passes through the apertures 68, slot 62 and prism 64 to light sensitivedevice 13 and through apertures 69, slot 63 and prism 65 to lightsensitive device 14. Light sensitive devices 13 and 14 are respectivelyconnected to the amplifiers l3 and I5, and the resultant amplified imagecurrents are respectively transmitted over channels 14 and 16. For eachrevolution of the disc 58 and reciprocation of the panel 59 the twosections of the image are simultaneously and completely scanned twice.As described above, the optical system, identified as lens 51,preferably operates to project an image which is neither inverted nortransposed in the plane of disc 58.

The receiver of Fig. 9 is similar to the transmitter shown in Fig. 8, inthat it comprises a disc 58, mounted on a shaft I00, a panel 59'slidable in a frame 60 and reciprocated by the cooperative action of cam61' and spring 12'.

Shaft I00 is driven by a motor (not shown) so that the disc 58 operatesin synchronism and in phase with the disc 58. A suitable system for thepurpose is disclosed in the above mentioned Stoller patent.

Panel 59' is provided with strip light sources 2! and 25, respectivelyassociated with slots 62 and 63, which are supplied with image currentstransmitted over the respective channels [4 and 16. One electrode ofsource 2| is connected to the amplifier i1 and a similar electrode ofsource 25 is connected to the amplifier 18, the other electrodes ofsources 2| and 25 are connected by a common conductor to the amplifiersl1 and 18.

Disc 58' is provided with four rows of elongated apertures 66', 61, 6Band 69 operating in pairs, i. e., B5'-68' and 6'l69, to constitutereverse spirals. These reverse spirals cooperate with slots E263, in thesame manner as apertures 86, B1, 68 and 69 with slots 62 and 63 at thetransmitter, to scan sources 2| and 25 respectively, which emit lightcorresponding in tone values to the successive elemental areas ofsections 6 and of the field scanned at the transmitter, whereby an imagemay be produced and viewed directly by an observer or projected on ascreen.

To avoid distortion of the image, caused by the non-uniform motion ofthe panels 59 and 59, when the direction of motion is reversed, limitedangular portions 15 of the discs 58 and 58, 180 apart are not providedwith apertures.

At the receiver, as an aid in joining the two sections of the image,without an appreciable 1 break, the slots are divided into two parts,the ends of which are in spiral lines and are so positioned that theydefine the line of division of the sections. However, a single slotcould be used by providing an accurately constructed cam 1 motion andadjusting the moving parts precisely.

While in the plural-channel systems described above, the image field isdivided into two sections and two communicating channels are employed,the systems 'may embody three or more sections and channels.

Since the total light supplied by each source at the receiver is used toilluminate successive elemental areas of separate lines of differentsections of the reproduced field of view and a plurality of such sourcesare simultaneously energized, an extremely bright image will beproduced.

The amplifiers may be of any suitable type adapted to repeat currentwithout distortion, but

preferably comprise space discharge tubes. They may consist of anynumber of stages to meet practical requirements.

If it is desired to effect scanning of the subject or field of view atthe transmitter by two or more 1 moving beams of light, this may beaccomplished by using scanning apparatus which operates as disclosed inU. S. Patent 1,803,700 of applicant issued May 5, 1931, or U. S. Patent1,786,652 of Hartley, issued December 30, 1930.

What is claimed is:

1. Image producing means comprising a series of strip light sources eachcorresponding to a unit line of an image field, and means forsimultaneously energizing a plurality of said light sources toconstitute remotely spaced unit lines of the image and for successivelyenergizing all of said sources.

2. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of light sourceseach corresponding to a unit line of an image field, terminal means fora plurality of image current channels, and means for associating saidterminal means simultaneously with a corresponding number of said lightsources and for successively associating each of said terminal meanswith a different one of said light sources.

3-. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of strip lightsources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field, terminalmeans for a plurality of image current channels, and means forassociating said terminal means simultaneously with a correspondingnumber of said light sources and for successively associating each ofsaid terminal means with a different one of said light sources. 7

4. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of strip. lightsources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field, terminalmeans for a plurality of image current channels, means for distributingimage currents from each of said terminal means to respective ones of agroup of said light sources, and optical scanning means for renderingeffective at each instant the light from a single elemental area of eachof said light sources then associated with said terminal means.

5. Image producing means comprising a plurality of strip light sourceseach corresponding to an elemental line of the receiving field of view,and means for energizing proups of said light sources in succession, allportions of each light source emitting light when the source isenergized.

6. Image producing means comprising a plurality of strip light sourceseach corresponding to a unit line of an image'field, means forenergizing groups of said sources in succession, and optical scanningmeans cooperating with said light sources for rendering effective ateach instant the light from a single elemental area of each lightsourcethen associated with said energizing means.

7. Television image producing apparatus comprising a plurality ofparallel strip light sources each corresponding to a unit line of animage field, a plurality of transmission channels, means fordistributing the current received over one channel to a plurality ofsaid light sources one at a time, means for simultaneously distributingthe current received over another channel to others of said lightsources simultaneously with the said first distribution, and anapertured rotating element cooperating with said light sources forproducing the image.

8. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of moving striplight sources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field,terminal means for a plurality of image current channels, and means fordistributing image currents from each of said terminal means to a groupof said light sources.

9. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of moving striplight sources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field,terminal means for a plurality of image current channels, means fordistributing image currents from each of said terminal means to a groupof said light sources, and scanning means cooperating with said lightsources.

10. Image producing means comprising a plurality of moving strip lightsources each corre sponding to an elemental line of the receiving fieldof view, and means for energizing groups of said light sources insuccession, all portions of each light source emitting light when thesource is energized.

11. Television image producing apparatus comprising a plurality ofparallel moving strip light sources each corresponding to a unit line ofan image field, a plurality of transmission channels, and means fordistributing the current received over one channel to a plurality ofsaid light sources one at a time, means for simultaneously distributingthe current received over another channel to others of said lightsources simultaneously with the said first distribution, and anapertured rotating element cooperating with said light sources forproducing the image.

12. Image producing apparatus comprising a movable supporting member, aplurality of strip light sources mounted thereon, and means forsupplying different image currents simultaneously to at least two ofsaid sources and to each thereof in succession.

13. Image producing apparatus comprising a rotating cylindricalsupporting structure, a plurality of strip light sources mountedthereon, and means for supplying image currents, respectivelycorresponding to' difierent parts of an image, simultaneously to atleast two of said sources and successively to said sources.

14. A scanning apparatus comprising an apertured cylindrical member, anda disc having apertures which register with a plurality'of the aperturesof the cylindrical member simultaneously thereby producing a pluralityof light channels therethrough corresponding to different elementalareas of the field being scanned, and terminal means for a plurality ofimage current channels, the several terminal means of the severalchannels being simultaneously operatively associated with the severallight channels, respectively.

15. A scanning apparatus comprising a plurality of strip light sources,an apertured member carrying said light sources, and a disc havingapertures which register with a plurality of the apertures in saidmember simultaneously thereby producing a plurality of light'channelstherethrough corresponding to different elemental areas of a field beingscanned, and terminal means for a plurality of image current channels,the several terminal means of the several channels being simultaneouslyoperatively associated with the several light channels, respectively.

16. Image producing means comprising a plurality of movable strip lightsources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field, means forsimultaneously energizing at least two of said light sources, and. meansfor rendering effective in succession, elemental portions of saidenergized light sources.

17. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of strip lightsources, a plurality of terminal means respectively associated with aplurality of image current channels, and means for simultaneouslydistributing image currents from said terminal means to different lightsources constituting a, group and successively to different groups ofsaid light sources.

18. Image producing apparatus comprising a supporting structure, aplurality of strip light sources mounted thereon, means for linearlyactuating said structure, and an apertured member for simultaneouslyexposing areas of the respective light sources to constitute elementalareas of an image field.

19. An electro-optical system for scanning a field of View comprising aplurality of image current channels, separate light sensitive meansincluded in said channels respectively, means for causing all portionsof the light sensitive means associated with one channel to be operablethroughout each complete scanning of said field and for causingdifferent portions of the light sensitive means associated with anotherchannel to be operable in succession throughout each said scanning.

20. An electro-optical system for scanning a field of view comprising aplurality of light sensitive means, and means for rendering said lightsensitive means operable simultaneously to scan different parts of saidfield of view and in succession to respectively scan said differentparts during each complete scanning, each said parts comprising aplurality of elemental strips of said field.

21. An electro-optical system comprising a transparency, means formoving said transparency, means for illuminating and scanning successiveelemental areas of said transparency, and light sensitive devicessimultaneously activated by light controlled by elemental areas ofdifferent sections of said transparency and successively by theelemental areas of all of said sections.

22. The method of controlling a bank of light emitting elements eachcorresponding to a unit line of an image field to produce a televisionimage which comprises causing light to be directed in succession fromportions of the elements constituting said bank corresponding toelemental areas of the image so as to set up parallel line series ofelemental areas of the entire image, and simultaneously causing light tobe similarly emitted from other portions of the elements constitutingsaid bank in succession to simultaneously set up a second parallel lineseries of elemental areas of the entire image, the two elemental areaswhich are being simultaneously set up at any instant being separatedfrom each other by a distance many times the greatest dimension of anelemental area.

23. The method of controlling a bank of lamps each corresponding to aunit line of an image field to produce a television image whichcomprises causing light to be directed in succession from portions ofsaid lamp bank corresponding to elemental areas of the image so as toset up parallel line series of elemental areas of the entire image, andsimultaneously causing light to be emitted from other portions of thelamp bank in succession to simultaneously set up a second parallel lineseries of elemental areas of the entire image, the two elemental areaswhich are being simultaneously set up at any instant being separatedfrom each other by a distance many times the greatest dimension of anelemental area.

24. The method of controlling a bank of lamps each corresponding to aunit line of an image field to produce a television image whichcomprises causing light to be directed in succession from portions ofsaid lamp bank corresponding to elemental areas of the image so as toset up parallel line series of elemental areas of the entire image, andsimultaneously causing light to be emitted from other portions of thelamp bank in succession to simultaneously set up a second parallel lineseries of elemental areas of the entire image, the two elemental areaswhich are being simultaneously set up at any instant being separatedfrom each other by a distance many times the greatest dimension of anelemental area, and repeating said process in time intervalssubstantially equal to the period of persistence of vision.

25. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of strip lightsources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field, terminalmeans for a plurality of image current channels, means forsimultaneously distributing image currents from said terminal meansrespectively to a like number of said light sources and successively todifierent light sources, and optical scanning means for renderingefiective at each instant the light from a single elemental area of eachof said light sources then associated with said terminal means.

26. Image producing means comprising strip light sources eachcorresponding to an elemental line of the receiving field of view, andmeans for energizing a plurality of said light sources simultaneously toconstitute a group and for substituting others of said light sources oneat a time and in succession to constitute difierent groups.

27. Image producing means comprising strip light sources eachcorresponding to a unit line of an image field, means for energizing aplurality of said light sources simultaneously to constitute a group andfor substituting others of said light sources one at a time and insuccession to constitute different groups, and optical scanning meansfor rendering effective at each instant the light from a singleelemental area of each said light source then associated with saidenergizing means.

28. Television image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of striplight sources, a plurality of transmission channels, means fordistributing the current received over one channel to a plurality ofsaid light sources one at a time, means for simultaneously distributingthe current received over another channel to others of said lightsources simultaneously with the first distribution, an aperturedelement, and means for rotating said apertured element with respect tosaid light sources for producing the image.

29. Image producing apparatus comprising aplurality of moving striplight sources each corresponding to a unit line of an image field, aplurality of terminal means respectively associated with a plurality ofimage current channels, and means for simultaneously distributing imagecurrents from said terminal means to different light sourcesconstituting a group and successively to different groups of said lightsources.

30. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of moving striplight sources, terminal means for a plurality of image current channels,means for distributing image currents from each said terminal means to adifierent series of said light sources, scanning means, and means formoving said scanning means with respect to said light sources.

31. Image producing means comprising a plurality of moving strip lightsources each corresponding to an elemental line of the receiving fieldof view, means for energizing groups of said light sources insuccession, all portions of each light source emitting light when thesource is energized, scanning means, and means for moving said scanningmeans with respect to said light sources.

32. Television image producing apparatus comprising a plurality ofparallel moving strip light sources, a plurality of transmissionchannels, and means for distributing the current received over onechannel to a plurality of said light sources one at a time, means forsimultaneously distributing the current received over another channel toothers of said light sources simultaneously with said firstdistribution, an apertured element, and means for moving said aperturedelement with respect to said light sources for producing the image.

33. Image producing means comprising a plurality of movable strip lightsources, means for simultaneously energizing at least two of said lightsources, scanning means, and means for moving said scanning meansrelatively to said light sources to simultaneously expose successiveportions of said energized light sources.

34. Image producing apparatus comprising a plurality of strip lightsources, means for moving said light sources across a field of view, ascanning means having a plurality of sets of light directing means lyingalong different parallel spirals respectively, and means actuating saidscanning means for causing said sets of light directing means to moverelatively to said light sources for respectively scanning them toproduce an image.

35. An image producing apparatus comprising strip light sources movingin one direction across a field of view, scanning means having aplurality of sets of optical apertures lying along different parallelspirals respectively, and means actuating said scanning means for movingsaid sets of apertures in another direction across said field of view torespectively scan said movable strip light sources for producing animage.

36. An clectro-optical system for scanning a field of view comprising aplurality of independent image current transmission channels, a rotatingscanning element provided with a plurality of light focussing means toproduce a series of moving images of a field of view, the path of eachimage being laterally displaced from that of a preceding image, and aplurality of apertures so placed that at any given instant during ascanning period one of said moving images will fall upon a number ofapertures equal to the number of channels, and means to associate one ofsaid channels with a plurality of said apertures which are notsimultaneously receiving light from said images.

37. The method of scanning a field of view for electro-optical imageproduction which comprises associating a plurality of light sensitivemeans with a plurality of image current transmission channels,respectively, rendering said light sensitive means operable inaccordance with the simultaneous scanning of difierent parts of saidfield of view, and rendering said light sensitive means operable insuccession in accordance with the scanning of said difierent partsduring each complete scanning.

38. A method of scanning a field of view which comprises producing atime-series of electrical impulses by scanning one portion of a field ofView, producing another time-series of electrical impulses by scanninganother portion of said field of View simultaneously with the scanningof said first portion, continuing the production of said firsttime-series of impulses by later scanning said other portion, andcontinuing the production of said second time-series of impulses byscanning said first portion simultaneously with said later scanning ofsaid other portion, and utilizing said first time-series of impulsesindependently of said second time-se ries of impulses in the productionof an image.

39. An electro-optical system for scanning a field of view comprising aplurality of independent image current transmission channels, aplurality of light apertures in a stationary opaque screen equal innumber to twice the number of independent channels less one, saidapertures being linearly arranged and equally spaced from each other,light sensitive material associated with each channel and energized bylight from said apertures to produce image currents, means to produce asuccession of images of said field of view each moving at right anglesto said linearly arranged apertures and the path of each being displacedlaterally from that of the preceding image, means to energize onechannel by light received from the middle aperture, and means toenergize another channel by light received from two apertures which areseparated by a number of apertures equal to one less than the number ofchannels.

40. An image producing apparatus comprising a cylindrical member havingapertures adapted to define unit lines of an image field, light sourcesrespectively supplied with different image current variations forsimultaneously illuminating a plurality of said apertures, and means forscanning said simultaneously illuminated apertures.

41. An image producing apparatus comprising a cylindrical member havingapertures adapted to define unit lines of an image field, light sourcessimultaneously supplied with image variations respectivelyrepresentative of different unit lines of an image for illuminating aplurality of said apertures, and means for scanning the simultaneouslyilluminated apertures.

42. An image producing apparatus comprising a cylindrical member havingapertures adapted to define unit lines of an image field, light sources,carried by said member and supplied with different image currentvariations, for simultaneously illuminating a plurality of saidapertures, and means for scanning said simultaneously illuminatedapertures.

43. An image producing apparatus comprising a cylindrical member havingapertures adapted to define unit lines of an image field, a plurality oflight sources, a plurality of image current channels, means forsupplying image variations from the respective channels to differentones of said light sources, respectively, for simultaneouslyilluminating a plurality of said apertures, and means for scanning saidsimultaneously illuminated apertures.

44.v An electro-optical system comprising a transparency, means formoving said transparency, means for illuminating and scanning successiveelemental areas of said transparency, and light sensitive devices eachequal in length to a unit line of the image and simultaneously activatedby light controlled by elemental areas of diiferent sections of saidtransparency and successively by the elemental areas of all of saidsections.

FRANK GRAY.

